You know your marathon training has officially begun when you start turning down activities because you need to get a run in that night.
If I am being completely honest, there were other factors in my decision to pass up a night of birthday bowling (not my birthday). But in the back of my mind, I also knew the 8 miles waiting for me on the treadmill would be more likely to happen tonight if I stick to my normal routine: dinner by 6, girls in the bath and to bed by 7, running my heart out by 8.
I am keeping my training schedule flexible as far as which days I do my runs. This means I am scheduling my long runs early in the week when possible so they are less likely to get shortened or skipped. This week's long run is tonight's 8 miles.
My other two runs this week are a 6 mile (2 easy, 2 tempo, 2 easy) and speedwork (10 min warm, 6 x 1 min fast + 3 min recovery, 10 min cool).

This marathon training is helping me keep two of my 2010 goals: to run more and to write more. I also plan to read more this year. In one of my favorite books about writing, Stephen King's
On Writing, he says a good writer is always reading. I'm not claiming to be a good writer, but I am a dang good reader. And normally I start a new book within a day or two of finishing the last one. Somehow that stopped happening in 2009. I'm not even sure I read one book per month last year, which is pathetic for me. So I have renewed my commitment to reading and cracked open a new book last night. And I picked up two more today after my biggest little midge requested a trip to library the moment she got out of bed.
To summarize, this year will be about reading more, writing more, and running more. Apparently I have tricked myself into believing there are more hours in the day in 2010.
And while I am on the subjects of reading, writing, and running, I must thank
Felice, my holiday gift exchange partner. She sent me a journal, which I have already put to good use making notes for future blog topics, and an awesome bookmark, which is currently hanging out in my latest read.
Happy Monday and happy running!